Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book. Unfortunately I have been unable to get into it.

I loved this book. Kidnapped by a fairy, held by goblins working for a banshee, and trying to figure out how to escape? I loved Ludlow and Adhair are great together, and their adventures are so fun to read. I'd say it's somewhere between young adult and middle grade, but a great read even if you're a bit older. With a variety of fantasy creatures making up the cast, you can't help but get lost in a world where magic is real.

If you love fantasy YA you will enjoy this book a whole lot. It's fun, amusing, and engaging with a hint of mystery and magic. It's perhaps more enjoyable for younger readers but if you love all thing fairytale you will fell in love with this book. For this and for breaking the fourth wall I would say it's a bit like the Lemony Snicket books so if you enjoyed those you should pick this one up as well.

I wish I had this whimsical treat while I was younger.

A BIG Thank You to NetGalley and Two Pigeons Press for providing me a copy of “Ludlow Lost (Osgoode Odyssey #1)” by Kate Robinson Dunne in exchange for my review. I had mixed feelings about “Ludlow Lost”. There are some aspects of it that I really enjoyed and some aspects that made me disappointed in reading it.

Let’s start with the negative aspects. There are a few reasons why I gave this book only a three star rating. Firstly, the book gets a little monotonous towards the middle when Ludlow, Raghnall and Harry are lost at sea. Nothing really happens for a while, except for Ludlow meeting strange mythological creatures along the way. Furthermore, the author initiates about some really interesting subplots but it never materializes in the story. For example, what is the weejy weejy bird and why did it appear at times? Perhaps the author will explain all this in book two, but it still made me frustrated in not knowing.

Secondly, I did not find any of the characters to be engrossing. Most of the characters only reveal a bit about themselves, and as it is a short book, it’s hard to get invested in them. Also, I felt like Ludlow was boring and Harry was very annoying. The mermaid and Storey were somewhat interesting, but were hardly present in the book to be memorable. The only character I felt was complex and interesting was Raghnall. In fact, I would have loved it if this trilogy was about Raghnall’s life instead of Ludlow. It would have been so exciting to read about how Raghnall gets trapped in Morag’s clutches and becomes a goblin. Speaking of Morag, I didn’t find the villain to be someone who was scary, and at times she was comical.

Now to talk about the positive aspects. I loved the author’s style of writing. She has written this book in a very matter of fact way but with a whimsical touch. She has the perfect style for writing children’s stories and I would definitely love to read her future books. The author has also included some cute illustrations that add well to the chapters.

I also loved the concept of the book. True, it didn’t turn out the way I had expected, but it’s still a charming plot. It reminds me a lot of “Alice in Wonderland”, or the movie “Spirited Away”. Moreover, I really liked the way the book ended. It had a very surreal effect that made me want to look forward to book two coming in 2019. Overall, I liked “Ludlow Lost” but I felt that it could have been so much better! I am looking forward to reading book two when it releases.

What a magical wonder of a book ; filled with amazing creatures and a great story tat brings you on a magical journey.
I definitely will have to find more books from this author because I need to read more books like this one.

Solid middle grade fantasy about a smaller than average boy kidnapped by a fairy and his magical adventures as he tries to return home. There’s a little bit of a disconnect because the ending explains that Ludlow has experienced a death in the family and perhaps all of the story has been an attempt to process his loss. A little too vague for my tastes in MG fiction, but the adventure is a good one. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

I enjoyed this book a lot - it's a quick, fun read that I finished in one sitting because the short chapters kept making me say, "Oh, I'll just read one more, then I'll stop for today..."

Besides the fact that I loved the fresh take on the "a fairy kidnaps a child" trope, I absolutely adored the author's writing style. She has quite a matter-of-fact way of telling the story, and that really worked for me for this book. I highly recommend it.

Although this book wasn't at all what I expected, I really enjoyed it!

I'm curious to see what the author does with the sequel. She didn't leave this book with a big cliffhanger, and there are so many different ways she could go with the story. I have a few ideas from the way the last few pages, but there are so many different possibilities.

I am quite disappointed that the sequel (according to a note in the back of the book) will not be released until Spring 2019! Why so long?

I loved the humor in this book! There are some very silly parts. ☺

The goblins were definitely my favorite! They were hilarious!

This book reminded me a little bit of Coraline (the book, not the movie. I haven't seen the movie, but I would like to.). It was a little dar

I really don't know what else to say about this book without giving away spoilers...

Overall, this was a great book! I definitely recommend it for all ages!

My only problem is how long I'm going to have to wait to read the sequel!

I received a copy of this book from the publishers, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

What a refreshing change! A book about fairies that isn’t dripping with with wide-wyed sweetness! Ludlow and Harry make a dynamic duo for the ages. Their unexpected (and unwanted) friendship becomes the anchor in this witty tale of kidnapping, betrayal, and revenge. I was reminded a bit of the Artemis Fowl books, but just a bit. This is new, fresh, and just plain fun.

Ludlow Lost is a fun, quick, adventurous read that young readers and older readers who are young at heart will definitely enjoy. The narration style feels like the readers is being told a story by someone who is a really good story teller. It teases the readers what might happen next with a sense of humor which draws in readers to dive more into the story. Plus, the mixed-in facts about the characters' attributes make an amusing, mystery effect while reading the story.

The diversity of characters is very-well put together. Ludlow Osgoode, which is the main character of the story, is a patient, resourceful, kind and smart although he is just an eleven-year old boy. Adhair, the fairy who refers to herself as "Harry" and also the one who kidnapped Ludlow, is hot-tempered, easily get jealous, but she has a kind heart. Their team, together with other characters they will meet as the story progresses, builds a wild, funny fantasy adventure.

Overall, Ludlow Lost gives readers a wonderful adventure together with mythological creatures which readers will see in a new light. This is an enjoyable read.

(An ebook was generously provided to me by Netgalley without any review requirement. Also, I have no connection to either the publisher or the author.)

This is a fun middle school read. It's fantasy filled with creatures humans don't believe in...

Two Pigeons Press and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you). It has been published and you can buy a copy now.

He's kidnapped by a fairy, two goblins take him and the fairy to a boat filled with them and a banshee is the captain. It's not looking good for Ludlow.

He has several adventures on board as he adjusts to life at sea and to hearing a banshee wail. Both are awful but he can used to the sea. Not so with the other noise...

He's lucky enough to make friends with a mermaid but the fairy says she's the one telling the banshee about his plans. He doesn't believe it and you'll find out he's right later in the story. Even the goblins aren't all real goblins.

This was a great read and I'd read more in this series. Ludlow still has a lot to learn about other worldly creatures.

I really enjoyed this story! Ludlow was well written and from the start, I was rooting for him. The plot was a little predictable, but it was still lots of fun.

I think kids would really enjoy this book. It had a lot of adventure and a protagonist they could relate to. What would happen if a fairy kidnapped them from their family? What would they do and would it be the same or different from Ludlow. I'm sure they imagine they would try and be very heroic.

As an adult though I felt some parts were a bit predictable though and there was a lot of repetition. It could definitely have been a shorter book.

I did however like all the characters involved and how they all played off each other.

I'm not sure I will continue on with the series though.

Great new adventure! I love the goblins as characters--and the way the author slowly explains their backstories. This book is great for middle school students looking for some fun adventure fantasy with all of their favorite mythological and legendary creatures.

Growing up in an Irish family I developed a love and enjoyment for all things fairytale at a young age. Since becoming an adult I still find myself gravitating towards these stories to capture the magic I once had in my childhood.

Dunne takes this idea that’s been done a million times and puts her own whimsical spin and spark into it so we get a story full of action, surprises and humor. A fairy kidnaps a child and they go on extraordinary adventures, meeting strange and interesting characters along the way. How is that not going to be charming?

In some ways it feels like a mother telling her child a magical story about fairies, banshees and a lovely adventure that will have you meeting all kinds of fantasy creatures both good and bad. There’s enough humor to light up a smile on your face or even get the occasional chuckle. There wasn’t anything scary enough that I’d be worried about traumatizing my 8 yr old as I read to her.

Dunne’s writing is smart and snappy enough to work for both the young and young at heart. I read this outloud to my 7 and 8 yr old at bedtime across a few nights and they had no trouble keeping up with the pace and enjoying the story in fact there were times they wanted me to read more but my throat was giving out, lol. We are given endearing characters that connect on a heartwarmingly emotional level and having grown up under the influence of Roald Dahl I often thought of his writing style as we poured through this delectable fantasy adventure.

My kids are eagerly anticipating the next offering in 2019.

Ludlow Lost was just such a treat to read. The story was whimsical, humorous, and heartfelt. Ludlow was adorably likeable and his story was literally magical. The friends he makes along the way are endearing in their own ways. I love how the author enlightens you about the many mystical creatures and their abilities without losing the reader. You are entirely engrossed in Ludlow's world and you won't want it to end. I'm eagerly awaiting the next novel in this series. 2019 cannot come fast enough.

If You Only Read One Fairy Kidnapper Book This Year....

The basic premise - fairy kidnaps clever eleven year old and they have adventures with strange creatures - feels a bit worn. Blurbs and comments describe the book, without much further explanation, as "charming", "special", and "cute". You might be forgiven if, with just those clues, you might hesitate about committing. Well, please excuuuuse me for being such a patronizing, know-it-all snot. It turns out that this book is fresh, amusing, and remarkably good-natured, (with a few mysteries, action, and several surprises tossed in for extra measure).

Here's the deal. The narration is dry and deadpan, but with personality. It feels like the reader is being told a story by someone who is very good at telling stories, has a sly sense of humor, and is subtly and gently teasing the reader. The effect is light and energetic, and the book invites the reader inside almost as though the reader is participating in the story. You get touches of that sort of thing with writers like Roald Dahl and David Walliams and Philip Ardagh, and that's pretty fast company.

The fairy, Adhair, (call me"Harry"), has kidnapped Ludlow Osgoode, but has been double-crossed by her Banshee employer and so has ended up teamed up with her kidnappee, with both of them now plotting escape. Adhair is short tempered and feisty, but fundamentally goodhearted, which is how I like my fairies. Osgoode is calm, kind, patient, and resourceful, and often observes the adventure with rather bemused detachment and cheerful resignation, (but a fair amount of grit and the right stuff), which is how I like my child heroes. You can imagine what a keen team these two make for what becomes an engaging buddy-adventure-comedy. A few surprise additions expand the team as the story progresses.

No spoilers, but Osgoode has to get back home, Adhair has to get even with the cheat who double-crossed her, and it's going to take a bit of a fantasy quest and a number of mini adventures for all of that to happen. Along the way we'll meet a wide range of fantasy creatures. Many of them are a mix of bad and good, but all of them seem designed to tickle a younger reader's funny bone, even if sometimes also introducing just a bit of something sterner and perhaps a bit scarier, (think of a banshee whose wail won't kill you, but will give you a terrible, terrible tummy ache).

The upshot is that the book was funny, inviting, a bit dry in an amusing way, a bit suspenseful, crisply restrained, and completely satisfying. A nice and especially well crafted find for, perhaps, the younger crowd.

(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)